The present Bueche Girod is a wonderfully expressive example of the bold approach to watch design that emerged during the 1970s. Its extraordinary elongated oval case abandons almost every convention of the traditional round wristwatch, stretching vertically along the wrist to create an object that sits somewhere between horology, jewellery and sculpture.
The substantial yellow gold case is deliberately smooth and uninterrupted, its broad rounded bezel flowing continuously around the crystal. Within it, the ivory coloured dial is dominated by dramatically elongated black Roman numerals. Rather than simply marking the hours, the numerals appear to expand and contract with the curvature of the case, creating an almost graphic composition around the slender black hands. The discreet Bueche Girod signature seems almost secondary within this powerful play of proportion and typography.

The reverse is equally striking. Completely closed and finished with a vertical satin brushing, the case back preserves the purity of the oval form and gives little indication of the movement concealed within.
Paired with a burgundy leather strap and yellow gold buckle, the watch possesses the extravagant elegance associated with some of the most imaginative watch designs of the period. More than a conventional dress watch, it is a piece conceived around shape, scale and visual impact, an unusually pure expression of Bueche Girod’s distinctive design language.